Her name is Debbie and she and her husband have had to endure a great deal to grow their family. Her story demonstrates true courage and determination. She is currently pregnant, on bedrest due to complications, and because she has faced the trauma of the NICU she bravely faces each day and each week with her current pregnancy with the uncertainty of what the day will bring. Please read her inspirational story below, in her own words, and feel free to leave comments and encouraging words. Thank you Debbie for sharing your beautiful story with us. I know there will be many readers who will relate to your journey.
Debbie's Journey
Written By: Debbie
Hi, my name is Debbie.
I am from Perth, Western Australia, so I am unfamiliar with some of the American terminology, as I’m sure you may be of mine; I apologise in advance!
Michael and I found out in 2008 that we would need IVF/ICSI to conceive, due to low sperm count. There was no hesitation; we commenced straight away – after all, we had two choices!
Our first cycle failed. Our second cycle resulted in a miscarriage at 7 weeks due to a chromosomal error. Our third cycle was an FET (Frozen Embryo Transfer) using embryos frozen from the previous cycle. In Australia, the guidelines are extremely strict, and under normal circumstances, it is not permitted to have more than one embryo transferred (due to the extra risks involved in having a multiple pregnancy). However, because we had miscarried, we were allowed to have two transferred. So, we jumped at the chance to have two little ‘snow men’ transferred! Even with having the extra embryo, we still only had a 28% chance of one of them taking.
When we discovered that the cycle had been a success, we were thrilled; however it was tainted by our experience just two months earlier. It was so hard not to worry that we would miscarry again, despite knowing that the odds were low. We had a scan at 5 weeks, which showed two little sacks! We had all suspected this might be the case as my hormone levels each week had been very high. However, when it was confirmed, we were so excited! But the Sonographer went on to explain that only 1 baby had a heartbeat. Our first scan was a little early (due to my inability to wait any longer!), so it was too early for her to tell if the baby would be ok or not. After 3 more scans, at weekly intervals, finally we saw two healthy sacks, two healthy babies and two strong heartbeats!
The pregnancy was fairly uneventful, aside from a small bleed at 13 weeks, and Braxton Hicks Contractions (tightenings) commencing at 14 weeks. This was considered fairly normal due to it being a twin pregnancy.
One evening, at 26 weeks, I felt strange. My tightenings were stronger than normal and I just felt uncomfortable. I slept fine and went to work as usual the following morning. The strange feeling continued, so I called my Obstetrician who wanted to see me straight away. She did a Fetal Fibronectin Test (a test which can determine if a woman is likely to go into preterm labour in the near future) which came back negative. I spent the next few hours under her observation; the tightenings eased back to normal. She kept me in hospital overnight, just to be safe. By midnight, the tightenings had increased once again so a midwife did an internal – I was 4cm dilated. Apparently, I was not having tightenings, but in fact contractions – to this day, I still really don’t know what the difference is or at what point they change from one to the other. My OB transferred me to Perth’s women’s & children’s hospital which is the only hospital in the state that can cater for preterm babies less than 34 weeks gestation. By ambulance, the trip was 10-15 minutes, however it felt like an eternity and I couldn’t stop shaking. The seriousness of what was happening was starting to sink in.
Thankfully, I was given medication which stopped the labour, along with two steroid injections to stimulate the production of surfactant in the babies’ lungs, essentially helping them to mature quickly. The plan was to remain in hospital to see if we could hold on for a week or two. However, 2 days later my waters broke. The midwife did an internal and I will never forget her words “you are 9cm and I can feel his feet”. My twin boys were delivered by emergency c-section at 26 weeks and 4 days, on May 2nd 2009. Caden weighed 1060grams (2lb 3oz) and Jorden weighed 925grams (2lb).
The boys spent 14 weeks in the Special Care Nursery (SCN – NICU). The journey was an emotional rollercoaster and something that I could never have been prepared for. We are abundantly blessed to have our determined little boys now running around as ‘normal’ healthy 28 month old’s!
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| First Twin Cuddle! 5 Weeks Old |
We were never given a reason for the boy’s early birth. On their records, it is written Spontaneous Early Labour – no known reason. They assumed it was most likely attributed to it being a twin pregnancy and that there should be no reason for it to occur again.
Early 2011, we discussed having another child. We had two embryos in storage and I thought about the often. After discussions with our Fertility Specialist (who is also our Obstetrician) we decided to go for it! She advised us, that in her opinion, we had a 10% chance of having another preterm baby.
So, our fourth cycle was also an FET, and also a success! (We have been blessed to have such an easy IVF journey!). We only had one embryo transferred; there was no way we were going to risk having another twin pregnancy, purely due to the risk of having another preterm birth.
My belly popped out at 9 weeks and I loved showing off my big belly again – I adore being pregnant. However, it all went pear-shaped when BH Contractions (I’m going to use the word tightenings again) started at 11 weeks – three weeks earlier than with the last pregnancy. My OB was a little concerned as this really was too early, however they were very mild and I went days between having one. However, by 14 weeks, they were full-on – up to 10 tightenings in an hour, all day long. She did an internal and was happy with my cervix. At 16 weeks, she started me on Nefidipine (a medication to relax the uterus) which worked well and she also started weekly ultrasounds to check my cervix. She also made a referral for me to see a specialist who is known as the best in the state for high risk patients. I had tried to get in to see him on my own, with no luck, so I was thrilled when she made the referral. It took a few weeks to get the appointment with him, so in the meantime, my OB continued to monitor me.
At 16 weeks my cervix measured 4cm. At weeks 17 and 18, it measured 3.5cm. At weeks 19 and 20, it measured 3cm. Then finally in week 21, I had my first appointment with the specialist. He measured my cervix at 2.6cm. He booked me in to do a cervical stitch the following morning. (In hindsight, I believe it should have been done several weeks ago, but generally, they won’t perform a cervical stitch until the cervix has measured 2.5cm or less).
Upon commencing the procedure, the specialist found that my cervix had shortened to 1cm overnight and I was 1cm dilated. Another day or two and it would have been too late – I was 21 weeks and 4 days.
I was kept in hospital for a week; I got home yesterday! I am now on strict bed rest, definitely for the next 2 weeks, and from there I will wait to be told! ‘Bed rest’ is extremely challenging. Aside from all of the household duties that need to be done, I hate that I can’t do anything for my boys. Of course, I know it will be worth it! And I realise that I could be stuck in hospital; at least I’m at home!
The specialist did a scan yesterday to check the stitch - he is happy with his “repair work” and my cervix is measuring 4cm, however he said he would have liked the stitch to have been further up. Due to the ‘damage’ that had already been done once he ‘got in there’, he wasn’t able to get the stitch as high as normal. Consequently, he is aiming for 32 weeks and I am going to be checked weekly.
Here in Western Australia, viability is considered 22 weeks and 6 days – that is tomorrow!
At the moment I am full of fear, guilt, disappointment and frustration. But I am also full optimism, determination and love!
I guess we now have a reason as to why the twins were born early!
Debbie,
ReplyDeleteI can only imagine how scared you must be, but its so great to read that your cervix is now measuring at 4 cm! My family will keep you and your little one in our prayers as you go through each week.